Bread-cutting machine.



M. J. FERREN.

BREAD CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APB..13, 1911.

Patented July 9, 1912.

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BREAD CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 13, 1911.

Patented July 9, 1912.

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M. J. FERREN.

BREAD CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 13, 1911.

1,032,055., 1 Patentd July 9, 1912.

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MYRON J. FERREN, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF CQLUMBIA.

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To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Mrnon J. FERREN, a citizen of the United States of America, re siding at Washington, in the District of Co lunibia, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Bread- Cutting Ma.- chines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relatesto new and useful improvements in machines for slicing bread, and more particularly to the type shown in my patent issued November 23, 1909, and numbered 941,065, wherein means is provided for simultaneously cutting a loaf into a plurality of pieces at a single operation whereby the loaf is reduced into slices of the desired thickness more expeditiously than can be done by cutting each slice separately.

The primary object of the invention is to construct a machine of the type mentioned which will be extremely simple in construction, efficient in operation, and durable and satisfactory in use.

A further object is to provide a machine whichcan be operated by a single operating device to move the loaf to the cutters and opera e the latter to perform the cutting op oration.

A further object is to provide cutting means of improved construction which will cut a plurality of slices at a single operation cleanly and evenly, without tearing or crumbling the bread.

Still a further object is to provide a cutiing mechanism which will permit of the ready adjustment of said mechanism to cut slices of varying thickness.

Another and important object is to provided intermittently operated feeding means for moving the loaf to the cutters, in combination with oscillating or draw out knives or cutters, which are operated to perform their work after each intermittent movement of the feeding means.

To the ends above stated, the invention consists in the improved arrangement and combination of parts to be more fully hereinafter described, and the novelty of which will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention is fully and clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1, is a side elevation of the machine embodying my invention, Fig. 2, is an Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 13,

Patented July d, 13:912..

1911. Serial No. 620,886.

end elevation thereof, Fig. 3, is a longitudinal section on the line 3'3 of F 4, and Fig. 4, is a top plan view of the machine.

Referring to the drawings, 1 denotes a table or bed which is substantially rectangular in plan and of such material and dimensions as best suited for the-purposes intended, said bed being preferably made of metal and being supported by the metal side frames 2, 2, to which said bed is bolted or otherwise secured along its longitudinal edges. I \Vithin the side frames 2, 2 at a point adjacent one end of the same, arejournaled the ends of a transversely extending rock shaft 3, to which are fixedly secured arms 4, 4, Av second rock-shaft 5 is journaled in the side frames 2, 2 directly above the shaft 3, and to this rock-shaft 5 are also fixedly secured the arms 6, 6, which are similar in all respects to the arms 4, 4. The arms 4, 4 and 6, 6 extend from the rock-shafts 3 and 5 respectively, at right angles thereto and are preferably arranged to project in substantially the same direction. Furthermore, the arms of each rock shaft are preferably mounted thereon one at each end of the same, and carried by and extending between each pair of arms 4, 4 and 6, 6, is a transversely extending rod 7, said rods having round journals on their ends, as shown at 7, where they are connected to the arms 4, 4 and 6, 6. These rods 7, 7 are preferably made angular in cross-section, being shown in the drawings as square, and are adapted to serve as the supports for the knife blades or cutters 8, which are provided with openings 9 at each end thereof through which the rods 7, 7 pass, said openings being formed to correspond to the cross-section of'the rods. By the mechanism just described, the blades or cutters will, as the shaftor shafts are rocked, be given an intermittent forward and downward movement, or in broader terms, an oscillatory movement, for performing their cutting operation.

it is to be understood that the blades or cutters Sare so mounted on the rods 7 as to be capable of being moved longitudinally of said rods; furthermore, that t blades mounted on these rods will be varied according to the number of slices into which it is desired to cut a loaf, and means will be presently described for maintaining these blades in proper spaced relation for cutting slices of determined thickness.

Suitably mounted upon the upper face a e number of the desired spaced relation during both the forward and backward movements of the carriage. The movements of the carriage may be guided by means of guide plates 12, one on each side of the said carriage, said guide plates extending upward from the bed 1, and bolted or otherwise secured to the side frames 2, 2, flanges 13 being provided on said guide plates which-overhang the upper longitudinal edges of the carriage.-

gets themselves may further reference to-these spacing 'it is'to be noted that they are curved upon The spacing fingers 11, are all detachably secured by means of screws 14, to a transverse member 15, which is pivotally mounted on the carriage, and springs were provided for pressing the forward ends of the fingers in a downward direction, so that said fingers bear with yielding pressure upon the loaf during the feeding of said loaf to the cutters. Upon the rear end-of each finger is'formed a cam 17, which cams are adapted to cooperate at the proper time with a transversely arranged roller 18 journa-led in the side frames 2, 2, and the purpose of such arrangement being to provide means for lifting or raising the forward ends q ofthe fingers upon the return stroke of the. carriage, such lifting of the fingers facilitating the placing of a loaf within the machine. It will thus be seen that upon the return ofthe carriage from the cutters or blades, the finger cams 17 engage beneath the roller 18, and owing to the factthat the fingers are pivoted intermediate their ends, the forward ends of said fingers will be liftedfor the purposes as above stated.

1 It is obvious from the above description that the cutting blades are free to move lengthwise of the shafts 3 and 5, and that they are spaced in proper relation by means of the fingers 11 carried by the feed carriage, the distance between adjacent blades depending on the width of the fingers. In order to out slices of different size, it is only necessary to change the carriage for one having narrower or wider fingers. In some instances it might be inadvisable to change the entire carriage and if this is so the finbe detached from its carriage and replaced by another set, the transversely arranged member 15 being made removable for this purpose. With fingers 11,

their under side to more nearly conform to mounted upon sprocket wheel 27, and a sprocket chain 28 In this connection it is the shape of the loaf-and to securely hold said loaf in proper position beneath them.

Any preferred means may be provided for operating the rock-shafts 3 and 5, and intermittently moving the carriage, but I have devised and employed the following means as supplying an eflicient mechanism for the purpose stated :'A power-shaft 19 is transversely arranged and journaled in the side frames 2, 2, and a sprocket wheel 20 is mounted on one end thereof, said sprocket wheel adapted to transmit motion to a smaller sprocket wheel 21 through the medium of a sprocket chain 22. The s rocket wheel-21 is mounted on a stud sha t 23, and is provided with an eccentricallyarranged pin 24 which is adapted to engage within a slot 25 formed within an arm 26 which is fixedly mounted on the rock-shaft 3. Itwill thus be understood that as the sprocket wheel 21 is rotated, the shaft 3 will be rocked, and the cutter blades given a forward and downward or oscillatory movement to 'erform their work in the slicing of a loa Also the power-shaft 19 is a small connects the same with a somewhat larger sprocket wheel 29 for driving it. The sprocket wheel 29 is loosely mounted on a stud-shaft 30, and has fixed to one face thereof a wheel 31 having formed therein a cam slot 32. An arm 33 is upon the transversely arranged shaft 34:, which is located above the wheel 31, and this arm 33 is adjustably connected to a rod 35, which is detachably secured at its other end to the carriage. The arm 33' intermediate its ends has a pin or roller 36 projecting therefrom, which pin or roller is adapted to travel within the cam slot 32 when the machine is in operation. The arrangement is such that power being applied to the shaft 19, to rotate the sprocket wheel 29, the cam wheel 31 will be rotated, and by means of the pin and slot arrangement, the arm 33 will be oscillated to reciprocate the carriage. to be understood that the cam slot for a portion of its length is arranged in stepped form as shown at a, with a dwell between each step, thus giving to the arm, and likewise the carriage which is connected to it, an intermittent movement in a forward direction or a direction toward the cutters. During the time of each dwell of the carriage in its intermittent movement toward the cutters, said cutters, by their [operating tnechanism, are given an oscillating movement to cut the loaf. Another portion of the cam slot, namely that indicated at b, is adapted to give the arm and likewise the carriage a quick return movement or a movement in a backward direction away from the cutters, and still another portion of the slot, and that indicated at 0, is arranged concentric with the shaft upon which the pivotally mounted cam wheel is mounted, and when the pin is in this portion of the slot the carriage will be momentarily held at rest, and for a period long enough for a loaf to be inserted within the machine.

From the mechanism just described for moving the cutters, and reciprocating the carriage, it will be understood that the loaf is fed forward a short distance, then held momentarily at rest for a short period until the cutters have been oscillated to cut a portion of the loaf, when the loaf is again moved forward another short distance, so that when the cutters are again operated they will out still another portion of said loaf. In other words, the carriage and cutters are alternately operated in the performance of the work necessary for the cutting of the loaf. In order: that the machine may be driven manually if desired or occasion demands, I may provide one end of the shaft 19 with a hand crank 37, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. The loaf is to be inserted within the machine at a point indicated at 38, and extending from the bed of the machine is a shelf 39, upon which the loaf may be supported prior to its insertion within the machine. A shelf 40 arranged at the end of the machine where the cutters are mounted, may be provided for receiving and supporting the slices as they pass from the cutters.

Having'thus described my invention, What I claim is r 1. n a machine of the character described, the combination of a plurality of cutters, and intermittent feed mechanism having means for maintaining the cutters in spaced relation.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a plurality of cutters capable of independent lateral movement, and intermittent feed mechanism having means for maintaining the cutters 1n spaced relation.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a-plurality of oscillating cutters, and mechanism intermittently operated for feeding material to said cutters.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a plurality of oscillating cutters capable also of independ- Y ent. lateral movement, and feed mechanism having means for maintaining the cutters in spaced relation. I

5. In a machine of the character de scribed, the combination of a plurality of oscillating cutters capable also of independent lateral movement, and intermittent feed mechanism having means for maintaining the cutters in spaced relation.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination of an oscillating support, a plurality of cutters mounte thereon to oscillate therewith, but capable of free movement lengthwiseof said support, and feed mechanism having means for maintaining the cutters in spaced relation. 7. In a machine of the character described, the combination of an oscillating support, a plurality of cutters mounted thereon to oscillate therewith, but capable of free movement lengthwise of said support, and intermittent feed mechanism having means for maintaining the cutters in spaced relation.

8. In'a machine of the character described, the combination of a plurality of cutters capable'of independent lateral movement, and pivotally mounted spacing fingers projecting between the cutters to maintain them in spaced relation.

9. In a machine. of the character de scribed, the combination of a plurality of cutters capable of independent lateral movement, a reci procatingfeed carriage, and spacing fingers pivotally mounted on said carriage and projecting between the cutters to maintain them in spaced relation.

10. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a plurality of cutters capable of independent lateral movement, and pivotally mounted spring-pressed spacing fingers projecting between the cutters to maintain them in spaced relation.

11. In a -machine of the character described, the combination of a plurality of cutters capable of independent lateral movement, and pivotally mounted spacing de vices for maintaining the cutters in spaced relation.

12. In a machine of the character described, the combination of an oscillating support, a pluralit of cutters mounted thereon to oscillate the free movement lengthwise of the shaft, a re ciprocating feed carriage having fingers projecting between the cutters to maintain them in spaced relation, and gearing operated from a single power shaft for oscillating said cutters and intermittently moving the carriage toward the cutters.

13. In a machine of the character de scribed, a plurality of oscillating cutters, a reciprocating feed carriage, means for intermittently moving said carriage toward the cutters, and means for oscillating the cutters after each intermittent operation of the carriage.

14. In a machine of the character described, a plurality of cutters, a feed mechanism associated therewith, means for intermittently moving said feed mechanism,- and means for operating the cutters after each intermittent movement of the carriage.

15. In a machine of the character described, a plurality of cutters, a reciprocating feed carriage, means for intermittently moving the carriage toward the cutters and also scribed, a plurality of cutters, a reciprocab ing feed carriage, a stepped cam for intermittently movnig the carriage toward the cutters, and means for operating the cutters to perform their work after each intermittent operation of the carriage.

18. In a machine of the character described, a plurality of cutters capable of independent lateral movement, a reciprocating feed carriage, and spacing fingers mounted on said carriage and having downwardly curved ends, said fingers projecting between the cutters to maintain them at all times in spaced relation.

19. In a, machine of the character described, a plurality of cutters capable of independent lateral movement, a reciprocating feed carriage and spacing. fingers mounted on said carriage havingmeans for retaining the material being fed in proper relation to the feed carriage, said fingers projecting between the cutters to maintain them at all times in spaced relation.

20. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a plurality of cutters, a recipricating feed carriage associated therewith, spacing fingers pivotally mounted on said carriage and projecting between the cutters to ma ntain them in spaced relation, and means carried by the fingers for 006 erating with a part of themachine for lifting the forward end of said fingers at each reciprocation of said carriage.

21. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a plurality of cutters, a reciprocating feed carriage, means for intermittently moving the carriage to-.

ward the cutters, spacing fingers'pivotally mounted on said carriage and projecting between the cutters to maintain them in spaced relation, and means for-lifting the fingers at the end of the backward stroke of said carriage. a

22. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a plurality of cutters, a reciprocating feed carriage, means for intermittently moving the carriage toward the cutters, spacing fingers pivotally mounted on said carriage and projecting between the cutters to maintain them in spaced relation, a roller transversely arranged with respect to thefingers, and a cam mounted on the rear end of each finger and adapted to engage said roller for lifting the forward end of the fingers upon the backward stroke of the carriage or the movement of the carriage away from the cutters.

23. In a machine of the character described, the combination of aplurality of cutters, a reciprocating feed carriage, spacing fingers pivotally mounted on said carriage and projecting between the cutters to maintain them in spaced relation, a member transversely arranged with respect to the fingers, and means carried by the rear end of each finger and adapted to engage said transverse member for lifting the forward end of the fingers upon the backward stroke of the carriage. c

24. In a machine of the character described, a plurality of cutters, a reciprocating feed carriage, a lever arm pivotally mounted upon the machine frameand connected to said carriage, a stepped cam also carried by the machine frame, a roller carried by the lever arm and adapted to cooperate with said stepped cam for intermittently moving the carriage toward the cutters, and means for operating the cutters to perform their work after each intermittent operation of the carriage.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

v MYItON J. FERREN.

Witnesses:

HENRY E. CooPER,

A. EARLE I-IU'roHmsoN. 

